Can someone walk me through setting up three WAPs in one house so that the client just walks around, and doesn't have to re-log in to each different WAP? I've only tried to do this once, and I failed.

It has something to do with SSID/Channel assignment, but I don't seem to get it.

IT guys?

TIA,

Norm

I wish I could help you. I've used the Linksys system several times and it is quite confusing...needed tech support to walk me thru it.

Plug in router.
LAN in computer.
Access Web Based Setup.
Setup WAN access.
Updated firmware.
Set SSID to something you and the client can remember.
Set WEP or WPA.
NOW STOP

Connect a WAP at the edge or expected edge of the network.
Plug it in.
Look up static IP address in manual.
Run back to the router.
Log into IP of WAP and RIGHT F'ING THEN CHANGE THE STATIC IP TO +1 or -1 OF THE STATIC IP ADDRESS. (This is the step where most people screw up.)
Now set the SSID and Encryption to be the same as Router.

Follow this procedure exactly as you add in WAPs
DO NOT PLUG THEM ALL IN AND THINK YOU CAN CONFIGURE THEM AFTER THAT! IP ADDRESS CONFLICTS WILL ENSUE!

For example the static on Linksys WAP54Gs are 245.
So IF I was to use 3.
The one downstairs would be 242.
The one in the middle 243.
And the one upstairs would be 244.

DO NOT ASSIGN THEM DIFFERENT CHANNELS. This makes hand offs get messy.

Go into wireless configuration zero and add the network and the keys.

Kind of quick but that is the gist of it all.

Those are the most important parts I mean.

My understanding is this:

All SSID's need to be the same
All encryption needs to be the same
The CHANNELS need to be different

I used to make the channels the same, but ended up causing issues. I was at a training and they told me to make them different.

Someone correct me if im wrong

very simple guys.

i use cisco but i assume that linksys and netgear and the others are similar.

set each ap up to exact ssid, then set up each ap to a different channel, if you have 3 use chnl 1, 6, 11.

each ap should have its own static ip, do not us dhcp you will have issues.

your wifi card will associate with the strongest ap to begin with, every time it will look to assocoaite with the last used ap( it might be the weakest depending on laptop movement.) based on mac address.

now granted i have dumbed this down to laymen speak so you it guys save the flames.

ed

Seems we all agree on most of it accept the different channels thing. When I would fix others work it was often a issue of the channels and hand offs.

Now you tell me that you were "Trained / Specifically told" to set them differently per wap. That flies int eh face of Mesh networking wich will all be in the same channel. Hmmm... odd.

This is called roaming and most consumer access points to not support it although a few claim that they do. If you are using Linksys, Dlink or any of the other inexpensive consumer gear just forget about using roaming. You'd be better off following the setup information provided above and defining each separate access point as "preferred" in each of the computers on the network. If you really need to "roam" on a consumer network I'd suggest that you define each access point as preferred in each "roaming" network device but you may find the transition moving among the various access points may not be perfectly seamless. There may be a few seconds when a connection is lost and then reestablished on the new access point. I understand that this may not be acceptable and is the reason you might wish to use the "roaming" feature. Therefore, if you truely need to "roam" then you may have to use a commercial access point. Ironically, for a Crestron web tablet or some web device that you expect to use as you move around a home you will find better results on the consumer access points that do not support roaming then on the pro or prosumer access points that do. I've no clue about AMX gear.

My only comment to the above setup information is that the IP address needs to be different but it can be any unused IP address. It does not need to be + or-1 though this can be considered a good idea as you will not need to remember vastly different IP addresses. When networking in non commercial enviorments I find it best to group devices according to some predefined pattern in all of my jobs. For example, Access points begin at .225 and go up. CD/DVD servers begin at 200 and go up. Printers, scanners and other home networking gear begin at IP addresses 20 and go up. Control systems begin at IP address 70 and go up. What changes in commercial enviorments? You are given the IP addresses by IT and you need to use what ever they allow.

The pattern you come up with will depend on the brand of router you use and where it's default DHCP addressses begin. I learned on Linksys equipment and they begin DHCP at IP address 100. I carry this through on all jobs irrespective of the router's default DHCP so I have less to remember from job to job.

Alan

You are right... If they are all setup as Access Points then use 3 different channels that do not overlap (1,6,11). If they are setup as repeaters then use the same channel. For roaming typically having them set up as AP's, SSID's the same and 3 channels will work just fine, every now and then depending on what you are using on the network you may need to set up the AP's as repeaters on the same channel to get roaming to work.

Thanks, guys.

I will be doing this later this week, and will report back.

Norm

Why would it vary?


Are you saying you can take a normal residential grade AP and/or router and make it work as a repeater? I thought you had to have a device that was specifically designed to be used as a repeater. (Ive used D-Link in the past)

Poster was asking for "definitive" answers, but it looks like there are still some varying opinions:)

Some devices like older firmware AMX panels didn't support roaming so you had to set up the AP's as repeaters if you wanted to carry them around the house and even then it didn't work all of the time. My cheap NetGear AP's can be set as repeaters and as bridge mode as well.

Just a quick bit of advice - stay away from the f*kkin links*s wre54g "repeater" ... have been banging my head against one @ a client's house for the past month, and I'm finally giving up - going to see if a "bridged" solution is any easier.

FYI, some info here...
[Link: tomsnetworking.com]